บท 216: Pekoms' Temper
"Bon, here she is. So this is the infamous Harpin D. Cherry, hm soir?" Tamago commented as he found Cherry's wanted poster.
'So this is the woman who escaped from Katakuri's clutches? After that failure he tripled the intensity of his training. Nowadays it feels like not a single move goes unnoticed by him when I'm in his presence, Gao.' Pekoms thought to himself.
"So you know who I am, now I just need to know who you are and why you think I would give a fuck about you." Cherry said arrogantly.
"We're respected members of Big Mom's crew, you can't get any higher ranked than us unless you're one of her children. If we didn't have something more important to do, you'd be a kill on sight priority. So you can count yourself lucky, Gao!" Pekoms matched her arrogant tone.
Although he said that, he really didn't want to get in a tousle with Cherry right now. Even with Tamago here with him, he very much doubted that he could actually catch or kill her if Katakuri failed. Hell, there was a good chance she could wipe the floor with them.
Plus, what he said wasn't untrue, they really did have something more important to do. That task being to secure Big Mom's sea salt candies. Failure to do so without a very good reason would likely lead to them being eaten instead, and even with a good reason Big Mom might just eat them anyways.
Tamago understood this without needing to be told, so they both moved to go around Cherry. However, they stopped when Cherry moved to block their path once more.
"What's more important than having a chat with me, hm? Something else I can swipe from Big Mom perhaps?" Cherry spoke provocatively. "On an unrelated note, that Devil Fruit I obtained with the help of that tall fellow with the scarf happened to be the Soda Soda fruit. A shame that Big Mom didn't get her hands on that one, it fit the theme of her crew so well."
Pekoms lifted his sunglasses in his signature move to intimidate people, revealing his adorably beady eyes. "Are you trying to pick a fight with Big Mom, Gao?!"
"Oh, I didn't realize that it could get worse than 'kill on sight'. Excuuuse~ me, then!" Cherry made a big show of moving out of the way, giving a light bow and gesturing with her arm to show she was allowing them to pass.
Tamago and Pekoms hesitated for a moment, glancing at each other. They cautiously moved to pass her once again, wary of any surprise attacks or traps. Instead, Cherry allowed them to pass accosted, but began to follow right behind them.
She did so so casually that it felt terribly awkward to even address it until Pekoms' patience ran out after about half a block. "Why are you following us, GAO?!"
"I"m not following you. I just happen to be going the same way." Cherry said.
Pekoms glared at her with squinted eyes, before turning around and picking up the pace.
"So where are we going?" Cherry asked innocently, increasing her pace to match theirs.
"GAO!!!" Pekoms roared in frustration.
Robin, who was following in a much more stealthy fashion nearby, barely contained a snort of laughter which would have given her away.
Tamago leaned over to Pekoms and whispered into his ear "Bon, perhaps we should just let her do as she pleases for now. She hasn't attacked us yet, so I think it unlikely she will do so later, omelette du fromage."
Pekoms grumbled lowly, but ultimately and begrudgingly agreed.
Cherry pretended she hadn't overheard them and asked again "SO WHERE ARE WE GOING?!"
"I HEARD YOU THE FIRST TIME, GAO! YOU DON'T NEED TO SAY IT LOUDER!" Pekoms lost his temper once again.
Cherry was silent for a few moments before taking a very deep breath.
"WE'RE GETTING CANDY FOR BIG MOM, DAMN IT! GAO!" Pekoms shouted in rage.
"You don't need to shout, I can hear you just fine." Cherry said.
Pekoms had visible bulging veins on his forehead from the intense anger he felt in this moment. Which was impressive considering he was covered in fur.
It didn't help that the people on the streets looked at the lion man like he was the problem without even sparing a glance at the root cause, Cherry. Rather they looked at Cherry with reverence, like she was their hero or something.
"So what the heck are you anyways? Some kind of cat-person?" Cherry made small talk, albeit in a rather rude fashion.
"I'm a Mink." Pekoms spoke through his clenched jaw, trying to rein in his temper.
"No you aren't, you're a lion." Cherry refuted.
"Mink is the name of my race, gao! We come in many kinds of mammals." Pekoms said, the thought of his home and people actually helping him calm down.
"So if you were a mink, you'd be a mink Mink?" Cherry asked.
"Yes." Pekoms said curtly.
Cherry snorted.
"Why you little!" Pekoms spun around as if to attack her, only to be held back by Tamago. "LEt me go, Tamago! I need to teach her a lesson, gao!"
Cherry didn't let up and said "So why do you call yourselves that? Is it because minks are famous for their soft, luxurious fur?"
Pekoms stopped fighting against Tamago and stared at her in silence.
"Wait, that's really it? I guess you guys are really proud of your fur then, huh?" Cherry said, surprised she had hit the nail on the head.
"Damn straight we are! Gao!" Pekoms turned back around and continued on his way, his head held high with pride.
"If you're so proud of it, how come your fur looks so terrible, though?" Cherry asked.
*fwoosh*
Pekoms' was so enraged in that instant that his mane literally caught fire.
"Gah, put it out, GAO!" Pekoms desperately patted away at his head to put out the small flame.
When he managed to do so, he sent a hateful glare at Cherry.
"Don't look at me, that was all you. Does every Mink have the ability to spontaneously combust?" Cherry asked with an intrigued and mocking smile.
"Hmph! I'll not entertain you any longer, gao." Pekoms harrumphed and did his best to ignore her.
Cherry asked more questions about the Mink people, but true to his word Pekoms said nothing to her. So instead she turned her attention to Tamago.
"What's your deal then, egg dude?" Cherry asked. "You've been egg-specially quiet so far."
"Puns are the lowest form of comedy, soir." Tamago stated bluntly.
"I think puns are the most egg-cellent form of com-egg-dy. I suppose you wouldn't understand, since your disposition isn't very sunny-side-up. Not very ap-poach-able either." Cherry said, snickering to herself.
"Bon, don't get it scrambled. I just don't like you, s'il vous plaît." Tamago said with a straight face.
Pekoms was trembling slightly as he walked, seemingly ignoring them.
"I see, you're the hard boiled type. Not to worry, I happen to be an egg-xpert at cracking through even the toughest of shells. Soon we'll be yolk-ing it up and clutch-ing hands like the best of friends." Cherry said.
"Bon, I can think of a dozen reasons why there's no chance of coop-erpation between us, soir." Tamago said.
Pekoms looked like he sprained something in his chest, but managed not to lose his cool. He absolutely would not give Cherry the satisfaction.
Unfortunately for him, Cherry was having plenty of fun regardless.
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